Combined fuse and switch box.



E. FRYE.

. COMBINED FUSE AND SWITCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAY19,1915- 1,173,791. 1 1 Patented Feb. 29,1916.

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E. FRYE.

COMBINED FUS'E AND SWITCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1915.

1, 1 73,79 1 Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

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Z 7%@Ma EDWARD FRYE, OF DORCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMBINED FUSE AND SWITCH BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

Application filed May 19, 1915. Serial No. 29,081.

-to devices of this character adapted for out side installation, as, for example, on a pole carrying service wires.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and eflicient safety device of this kind, whereby the fuse plug may be entirely disconnected from the line whenever it is necessary to remove the same for renewal or repairs, thus eliminating all danger to the operator.

The invention contemplates the use of an oil switch for disconnecting the fuse from the line, such switch being operated by means of an insulated handle outside of the box.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved combination box complete, showing the method of connecting the line wires thereto Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the same; Fig. 3 is a'horizontal section taken on a plane just below the cover, parts being in plan; Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the fuse compartment of the box Fig. 5 is a similar section through the switch compartment; Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary, horizontal section through one side of the fuse compartment showing structural details; and, Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the outer end of the switch shaft and associated parts.

My improved combination switch and fuse box is preferably formed throughout of porcelain or similar material, and is all in one piece except the cover. The box is designed to be interposed in a transmission line, at the point where house wires are connected thereto, or elsewhere, and is particularly adapted to be mounted upon the cross-arm of a transmission pole, or other suitable support.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the improved box is designated in its entirety by the reference character 1, and comprises end walls 2 and front and rear side walls 3, as well as a partition wall 4, dividing the box 1nto switch and fuse compartments. The switch compartment is open at the top, and has a closed bottom 5, while the fuse compartment is closed at the top, as indicated at 6, and has an opening 10 formed through the bottom thereof. The cover 7, preferably having a rounded top, so as to shed water, is secured to the box so as to close the switch compartment. 'The cover 7 may be provided with a peripheral flange 8, arranged to fit over the walls of the box, and may be held in position by means of bolts 9. The front wall of the fuse compartment is provided with an opening 11, adapted to be normally closed by a fuse plug 12, having a handle 13, and a flange 13 servmg to tightly cover the opening 11. Each end wall 2 of the box is preferably provided with a boss 14,to receive the line wires, and with perforated lugs or ears 15, by means of which the box is secured to a cross-arm or other support.

' The leading-in conductor is indicated at 16, and may be of the usual construction, consisting of a copper core covered by a. layer of insulation. The bare end of this conductor extends through the wall of the box and is connected inside the switch compartment with a clip 17. The switch which I employ comprises a switch blade 18, made of copper or similar material, and secured at one end to an insulating block 19, rigidly mounted upon a shaft 20, journaled at one end in an interior boss 21, carried by the rear wall of the box and extending at its other end through the front wall, and a similar boss 22, formed on the outside thereof. The block 19 and shaft 20 may conveniently be made of hard fiber. An operating handle 25 is secured to the extended end of the shaft 20, and means are preferably provided for resiliently holding the handle and switch blade in either the off or on position. of grooves or notches 23, formed in-the outer face of the boss 22, and a light spring 24, secured to the underside of the handle 25 and adapted to snap into one or the other of the notches as the handle is moved. 7

The switch blade 18 fits snugly between and in frictional engagement with the arms of the bifurcated extended end of clip 17, and is adapted to engage at its free end with Such means consist of a pair a contact 26, mounted nearthe bottom of the box, and secured to the partition wall 4: by means of a bolt 27. As clearly shown in Figs 2 and 3, this bolt 27 extends through the partition wall i into the fuse compartment and connects, in such compartment, with a bracket 29. It will be understood that the bolt 27 is suitably packed so as to fit oil=tight in the wall -l-, to prevent leakage of oil into the fuse compartment' Oil is placed in the switch compartment, as indicted at 28 infl ig. 2, and is maintained at such a height that the lower end of the switch blade 18 is always well submerged. By this means dangerous arcing at the contact 26, when the switchis movec 00 break the circuit, is prevented The braclcet zt is L-shaped, as shown, and carries a resilient spring clip 30 A similar bracket is located on the opposite Wall of the fuse compartment, and may conveniently be held in position by serving as a not for the screw-threaded end 37 of the outgoing conductor This conductor 36 is received in socket "formed in the boss 1 and has a shoulder 33 which limits its in ward movement. By screwing up the conductor, therefore, the bracket is firmly clamped against the wall of the box. A construction similar to this may be employed for connecting the conductor 13 to theclip 17. The bracket 35 carries a spring; clip bent to form a pair of spaced resilient arms 3-2, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. This clip is scour-er to the bracket by means of a bolt or rivet39, and is iden ical in construction with the clip 30 above referred to. the fuse plug 12 consists of a relatively J at body of insulating material, such as porcelain, preferably tape ing in form as shown in i, and has mounted near its outer nd on opposite sides and opposite edges thereof, pair of clips 31 and These cli s are idenical'in construction, and shown in Fig. 0, each preferably has end bent baclr upoitself as indicated at 33 to form d head. cinch rounded h ads or ends ol'the clips 3i and 32 are to enter between the spring arms clips and 3t, r spectively, as shown generally in 1. more in detail in Fig. 3, Ihe frictional engagement oi these clips is sullicient to hold the fuse plug in position. The fuse itself, which is composed of the usual alloy, is indicatel at 12 and is secured at its ends to clips 31 and 32, The middle portion of the fuse passes through a notch or opening 12 in the body of the fuse plug in such a manner that half of the fuse is disposed on one side of the plug and half on the other, In this way, danger of arcing or ilashingover is minimized. If the fuse should burn out, the products of combustion will be discharged downwardly through the opening 10, and thus do no harm. The line wires are connected to the conductors l6 and 36 by means of couplings 40, of any suitable construction.

In practice, whenever it is necessary to remove the fuse plug for inspection or repair, the operator swings the handle 25 to the left, as shown in Fig, 1, thus breaking the circuit at the contact 26 and absolutely disconnecting the fuse plug and associated parts from the power side of the line, and making it perfectly safe to handle the same. Moreover, the arc is produced in the switch compartment where it is extinguished by the oil, rather than at the clips 31 and 32. It will be seen that the entire device is simple, compart and practical in its operation, and it is thought that its many advantages will be fully appreciated without further discussion.

It will, of course, be understood that two or more switch blades may be mounted on the shaft 20, if desired, and a corresponding number of fuses employed.

W hat I claim is;

1. A combined fuse and switch box hav- .ing two vertically extending compartments arranged side by side, a switch blade pivotally mounted in the upper part of one compartment, and depending therein, said compartment being open at the top only and adapted to contain oil, a contact mounted on the wall of said compartment near the bottom thereof, and arranged to be en gaged by the dependin portion of said switch blade below the oil level in said com= partment, a pair of clips in the other compartment, one of which is connected with said contact, a fuse plug held in said clips, such other compartment being closed at the top and open at the bottom, and means for forming exterior electrical connections with said switch blade and fuse plug.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a r ceptacle having a partition wall dividing the same into two compartments, of a switch in one compartment, said compartment containing oil, provided with a removable cover, and the other compartment having an opening through its side, a- "fuse pug fittin into and closing such opening, a fuse carried by said plug in said last mentioned compartment, and means for connecting said switch and fuse in a series circuit 3. ln a device of the character cescribed, the combination with a receptacle having outer walls and a partition wall dividing the same into two compartments, of a switch blade pivotally mounted in one compartment, a contact carried by the partition wall and adapted to be engaged by said switch, a pair of clips in the other compartment, one of said clips being mounted on said partition Wall and electrically connected with said contact, and the other. clip being mounted on the outer wall opposite said partition wall, and a fuse plug 1n said-last mentioned compartment, said plug having a fuse provided with terminals adapted to simultaneously engage said clips, and means for forming exterior electrical connections with said switch blade and outer clip, respectively.

4. In a device of the character described, a box comprising front and rear side walls and end walls, and a vertical partition wall parallel with said end walls dividing the box into two compartments, lugs carried by said end walls whereby the box may be seecured with its rear Wall against a suitable support, a switch in one compartment, and 15 EDWARD FRYE.

Witnesses:

EDWARD A. GISBURNE, ALFRED F. STAEGER. 

